Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 68: Please Make Yourself Clear, Marquis

The May sun was indeed growing increasingly intense.

Just like in Yun Chu's previous life, the chill of spring lingered through April, but as soon as May arrived, temperatures soared, leaving people dizzy from the heat.

They had stood waiting for less than a quarter of an hour when a servant hurried out and said, "Lord Xie, Lady Xie, please follow me inside."

Yun Chu had thought Marquis Xuanwu would deliberately make things difficult for Xie Jingyu, but she hadn't expected to be admitted so quickly.

This was her first time entering the Marquis Xuanwu residence in both lifetimes.

Pavilions, water terraces, carved beams, and painted rafters—it was evident that the Qin ancestors had been people of refined taste.

The servant led them into the garden, where summer flowers bloomed in splendor and butterflies fluttered everywhere. No sooner had they stepped inside than a dog's bark suddenly rang out.

A large dog, as tall as a person, charged out from the side, barking wildly at Xie Jingyu. Xie Jingyu, being a scholar, had never encountered such a situation before and stumbled backward in fright.

Yun Chu remained standing where she was, unmoving. The dog was leashed and couldn't possibly lunge or bite them.

"Lady Xie truly has remarkable courage!" Qin Mingheng strode out. "Lord Xie, a man of eight feet, is actually inferior to a woman. Tsk, tsk."

Xie Jingyu's face darkened.

He lowered his head and clasped his hands respectfully. "Your Lordship, my wife and I have come to apologize and seek forgiveness. Yesterday, when you brought the young master to the Xie residence for a drink, you honored our family. However, I have failed in educating my son, resulting in his injury to the young master. My son's leg is permanently ruined, and I have sent him to a manor to reflect on his actions. He has received the punishment he deserves. I beg Your Lordship to be magnanimous and grant me an opportunity to atone."

Yun Chu took the inkstone from Ting Shuang's hands and respectfully presented it with both hands. "This is an exceedingly rare Songhua inkstone. Please accept it as a humble gift."

Qin Mingheng had no fondness for reading and cared little for something like a Songhua inkstone, but this was an inkstone personally delivered by Yun Chu.

He walked over, took the inkstone, and glanced at it. Turning it over in his hands, he cast a sidelong glance at Xie Jingyu. "Lord Xie, surely you don't think that bringing your wife to apologize in person will make me drop the matter, do you?"

Xie Jingyu's fingers tightened imperceptibly. "Please make yourself clear, Marquis."

"Five years ago, you came to me, begging for an exceedingly rare miraculous medicine," Qin Mingheng said, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Do you still remember what price you paid back then?"

Xie Jingyu's heart sank heavily.

Five years ago, on the eve of his wedding to Yun Chu, his mother Yuan Shi's condition had suddenly worsened. She vomited blood incessantly and spent most of her time in a stupor.

From the time he was old enough to understand, his mother had been bedridden with illness. He had two greatest hopes: one was to secure a high official position and bring glory to the Xie family, and the other was to cure his mother's severe illness.

How he wished his mother could sit in the seat of honor and drink the wedding toast at his and Yun Chu's celebration.

He inquired far and wide and finally learned that Marquis Xuanwu possessed a miraculous medicine passed down from his ancestors, said to cure a hundred ailments.

Through the Yun family's connections, he managed to gain entry to the marquis's residence. When he knelt before Marquis Xuanwu, begging for the medicine, the marquis made a demand that still made him tremble to recall.

"May I take your place on your wedding night, Lord Xie?"

He still remembered the marquis's sinister expression as he spoke those words, as if he wished to devour him alive.

It was only then that he realized Marquis Xuanwu, though married to a daughter of the Luo family, harbored unusual feelings for Yun Chu, the eldest daughter of the General's household."What is Lord Xie thinking about, with such a grim expression?" Qin Mingheng's smirk deepened. "It must be my fault for being a poor host. Someone, bring tea for Lord Xie and Lady Xie."

A maid brought two cups of tea and placed them before Yun Chu and Xie Jingyu.

Yun Chu's upbringing told her that when visiting, one must symbolically take a sip of the tea offered by the host, whether thirsty or not—this was proper guest etiquette.

She picked up the teacup and brought it to her lips.

"Madam."

Xie Jingyu called out involuntarily.

Yun Chu paused her motion and turned her head. "What is it?"

Qin Mingheng leaned back in his chair. "What, does Lord Xie suspect there's something wrong with my tea?"

Xie Jingyu tightened his grip on the cup.

Hadn't he brought Yun Chu here precisely because he anticipated this scene?

Five years ago, Yun Chu had traded that one night for his mother's life.

The Yun Chu of today was no longer the innocent young lady of the general's mansion. What was wrong with using another night of hers to secure the Xie family's peace?

Though he had already made this decision, why did he hesitate when faced with this cup of tea?

For the first time, he realized what a truly hypocritical person he was.

Xie Jingyu spoke softly, "Be careful, the tea is hot."

Yun Chu lowered her eyes. "Thank you for the reminder, husband."

She brought the teacup to her lips and took a small sip, but did not swallow the tea. Using her handkerchief to dab her mouth, she discreetly spat the tea into it.

Though her movements were subtle, Qin Mingheng had been watching her from the corner of his eye and naturally noticed.

He couldn't help but smile mockingly. His tea contained nothing at all, yet she was so wary she wouldn't even drink a sip.

Yet five years ago, in her wedding wine with Xie Jingyu, she had placed a sleeping drug strong enough to knock out a grown man.

Just then, Luo Shi arrived with her maid, smiling broadly. "Since Lord Xie and Lady Xie have come in person, Marquis, let's not dwell on yesterday's matter anymore."

Not only had the Xie family's second young master broken his leg, but he had also been sent far away from the capital—essentially, the Xie family had abandoned this child.

Although he was merely a concubine-born son who couldn't compare to the heir of the marquisate, the Xie couple had gone this far. If their marquisate still nitpicked, they would be seen as unreasonable.

"I've just received some excellent tea. Lady Xie, why not come to my courtyard for a while?" Luo Shi said cheerfully to Yun Chu. "It's almost noon—would you join me for lunch as well?"

Yun Chu naturally wouldn't refuse. She stood up and followed Luo Shi to the rear courtyard.

As soon as the two women left, the smile vanished completely from Qin Mingheng's face. He said coldly, "Lord Xie, are you still here? Do you wish to stay and dine with me?"

Xie Jingyu clenched his fist. "This official takes his leave.Watching his figure disappear beyond the侯府 gates, Qin Mingheng's expression grew even colder.

How could such a selfish, despicable man be worthy of Yun Chu? Why had Lady Yun been so blind as to marry Yun Chu to such a vile person?

He went to his study, pressed a hidden mechanism, and entered a painting studio. The walls were covered with portraits of the same woman, and on the table lay a handkerchief.

He took down one of the paintings and murmured, "Yun Chu, I failed you. If I had defied the imperial decree and refused to marry Luo Shi, could we have become husband and wife...?"

Marquis Xuanwu was an idle title without real power. He couldn't understand why the Emperor had arranged a marriage for him back when he was still the heir.If he could just wait two more years, until Yun Chu came of age, he could persuade his mother to propose marriage. But in the end, he was one step too late.

He married the Luo family's daughter, and she became Xie Jingyu's wife.

Yun Chu drank tea in Luo Shi's courtyard and accompanied her for a meal. She was extremely cautious, secretly spitting out anything she ate onto her handkerchief.

It wasn't that she was overly suspicious, but Marquis Xuanwu and Xie Jingyu were clearly at odds, so she had to handle things carefully.

After chatting with Luo Shi for a while, she learned that the rumors circulating outside were true—aside from Luo Shi, there were no other women in Marquis Xuanwu's residence.

In this dynasty, which man didn't have three wives and four concubines? Yet Marquis Xuanwu had gone to such lengths for Luo Shi.

When the time was about right, Yun Chu bid farewell to Luo Shi and went to the front courtyard to meet up with Xie Jingyu.

A servant in the front courtyard informed her that Xie Jingyu was in Marquis Xuanwu's study, discussing matters, and asked her to wait in the side room of the study for a while.

Yun Chu nodded and followed to the side room to sit down.

The side room had ice basins placed on all four sides, so even under the blazing sun, she didn't feel the heat at all.